Separating and sizing attachment for concentrators.



No. 798,632. PATENTBD SEPT. 5, 1905. J. A. SMITH.

SEPARATING AND SIZING ATTACHMENT FOR GONOBNTRATORS.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.B, 1902.

Z3 7 gwoawbom awe 0421 UNETEE) STATES PATENT ()FFE'UE.

JOHN ALLEN SMITH, OPTUHICICDE, ()L()l\.=\l)(), ASSIGUUH ()F ONE-HALF TO HENRY lil. \YASON, OF \\"AS(V)N, ((,)L()l\r\l)().

SEPARATING AND SIZING ATTACHMENT FOR CONCENTRATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed September 8, 1902. Serial No. 122,570.

[ a l] 71-71mm 1'! may concern:

Be it known that I. JouN ALLEN Snrru, a citizen of the United States,residingat Creedc, in the county of Mineral and State of Colorado,

have invented a new and useful Separating and Sizing Attachment for Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a separating and sizing attachment for concentrating-tables, the object being to completely separate the values as they fall from the discharge end of the table and to properly size or grade the middlings in order to facilitate the concentration when said middlings are again passed over the table.

To the accomplishment of the object stated the attachment is constructed and arranged as indicated in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a concentrating-tablc equipped with my separating and sizing attachment. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the subject-matter of Fig. 1 with parts removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. i is a sectional view thereof, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the brackets.

Like numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

1 indicates an ordinary transversely-inclined concentrating-table, along the upper side of which extends a feed-trough 2 and at the opposite or lower side of which is disposed a splash-board 3 and the flume 3. As is well understood in the art, this table is given a shaking movement by mechanism which it is not necessary to illustrate. This motion, in conjunction with the wash-water flowing transversely across the table from the trough 2, effects the concentration of the sev eral minerals and also effects the separation thereof from the silica and gangue, the waste being discharged over the splash-board 3. It is also well understood in the art that the concentrating action of the table results in the formation of streaks or ridges of concentrated values, the heaviest particles forming a streak adjacent to the trough and the somewhat lighter particles forming a second streak 5 parallel with but spaced from the first streak or ridge. The first or heavier streak is usually formed of com pletely-concentrated separated valucs and constitutes the finished prodnet. The material lying between the two streaks or ridges is the product of imperfect separation and is what is known as middlings, and the second streak is made up of comparatively light particles, certain of which do not properly belong with the second class of concentrates, but reach this second ridge or streak because of their small size that is to say, certain of the values which properly belong in the first ridge or concentration reach the second ridge or concentration of values because of the lightness in weight resulting from the diminutive size of the particles.

My attachment is designed, first, to separate the first line of concentrates, the middlings, and the second line of concentrates from each other as the material is discharged over the table to prevent subsequent intermingling of these different grades of product and, sec- 0nd, to separate from the lighter concentrates those small but comparatively heavy particles of value which belong with the first or heavier concentrates, their separation being effected by a sizing or grading device acting in a manner to be explained.

The attachment comprises a pair of brackets 4t, bolted or otherwise secured to the frame 5 of the table and extending beyond the discharge end of the latter. The outer end portions of the brackets are disposed at an inclination to the plane of the table, and to them are attached a pair of parallel guide-rods 6 and 7 for the shiftable support of the separating mechanism. The manner of attaching the guiderods to the brackets is not material; but they are preferably passed through said brackets and secured at one end by nuts h; as shown.

The attachment proper com prises a screen- 'frame 9,composcd ofthrcc longitudinal framebars 10, ll, and 12, connected by thccnd bars 13 and ii, secured thereto in any suitable manneras, for instance,by dovetailed joints. The specific construction of the frame 9 constitutes no part of the present invention and may be varied within wide limits. The end bars 13 and M are perforated for the passage of the guide-rods 6 and T, and over the frame is stretched and secured in any suitable manner a sizing and separating screen 15. The

frame J, in addition to its function as a support for the screen, constitutes a carriage for two amalgamating chutes or troughs 16 and 17, disposed at right angles to each other and located, respectively, in planes above and below the frame 9. The trough 16, which may be termed the middlings-trough, is disposed transversely of the frame 9, usually at one end thereof, while the trough 17, which I shall termv the values-trough, is disposed longitudinally of the frame 9, at the side thereof nearest the table, and extends beyond the end of the screen and the trough 16 for a purpose to be made plain.

It is sometimes desirable to change the lo-' cation of the middlings-trough with respect to the screen, although its position at the end thereof is ordinarily desired. It is therefore secured in place by bolts 18, designed to pass through openings 19 in the side bars 10 and 12 of the frame 9, each bar being provided with a series of these openings to permit the attachment of the trough at different points. The values-trough is attached to the under side of the screen-frame by belts or the like and is longitudinally inclined in a direction opposite to the transverse inclination of the table. It will now be seen that the frame 9 may be moved along its guides to properly position the two troughs with respect to the table. Assuming, therefore, that the separating and sizing apparatus has been properly adjusted in accordance with the particular minerals to be concentrated, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: The heavier con- Centrates will form in a ridge adjacent to the upper side of the table, and the shaking motion of the latter will cause them to be discharged over the end of said table and to be deposited in the values-trough 17. The middlings to wit, that portion of the material the separation of which is incomplete will be deposited in the middlings-trough 16, and the second ridge or streak, made up of the lighter values, including small particles of theheavier values, will be discharged upon the screen 15, which being attached to the table will be constantly shaken thereby. Such particles of the material deposited upon the screen as are too large to pass through the meshes thereof will be discharged over the side of the screen and will usually constitute a finished product. The small particles of the heavier values, and likewise the small particles of the lighter values, will pass through the meshes of the screen and Will thus be sized, so that when again subjected to the action of the concentrating-table their relative weights will effect their complete separation and concentration. It will thus be seen that the screen constitutes a combined separating and sizing screen. It separates the smaller particles of the heavier values from the larger particles of the lighter values; but as it cannot do this without permitting the smaller particles of the lighter values to be deposited with the small particles of the heavier values the result is that the material which drops through the screen contains intermingled values of difierent weights, but of the same size, which obviousl y makes its subsequent concentration upon the table completely effective. Thus the heavier concentrates, the lighter concentrates, and the middlings are separated, so that these different grades of material cannot possibly miX after being discharged from the table, and in addition the lighter concentrates are relieved of the small particles of the heavier concentrates. I have referred to the troughs 16 and 17 as amalgamating-troughs; but it will of course be obvious that the invention is not limited to troughs capable of effecting an amalgamation.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction and operation of my attachment will be clearly apparent; but while the illustrated embodiment of the invention is believed at this time to be preferable I wish to be distinctly understood as reserving to myself the right to effect such changes, modifications, and variations of the illustrated structure as may be fairly embraced within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a concentratingtable, and guiding means at the discharge end thereof, of a screen and a trough adjustable in unison on the guiding means in a direction transverse to the table, and means for effecting the relative adjustment of the screen and trough.

2. The combination with a concentratingtable, of separating mechanism including a screen-frame adjustable across the discharge end of the table, and a plurality of angularlyrelated troughs and a screen all carried by said frame for movement therewith.

3. An attachment for concentrating-tables comprising a supporting-bracket, a guide extending therefrom, a frame movable on the guide and a screen and trough movable with the frame.

4:. An attachment for concentrating-tables comprising a supporting-bracket, a guide extending therefrom, a frame movable along the guide, and a plurality of troughs and a screen mounted on the frame for movement therewith.

5. An attachment for concentrating-tables comprising guides, a screen-frame movable thereon, a screen on the'frame, and a trough disposed transversely of the frame and adjustable longitudinally thereof.

6. An attachment for concentrating-tables, comprising guides, a frame movable thereon, a screen on the frame, a values-trough secured to the frame and extending beyond one end thereof, and a middlings-trough adjustably carried by the frame and disposed transversely of the same.

7. An attachment for concentrating-tables, comprising angular supporting-brackets, a

IIO

pair of guide-rods carried by the brackets, a rectangular screen-trzune having its end bars zipertured tor the receptionot' the guide-rods and having-series of openings in its side bill's,

n iniihlIings-trough supported by the frame at one end, trough-retaining devices engaging said openings, :1 screen mounted on the frame at one side of the n1iddlings-trough, and a values-trough secured to the frame and extending beyond the opposite side of the mid- I0 dlings-trough.

In testimony that I ehtiin the foregoing as my own I havehereto nflixed mysignziture in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ALLEN SMITH.

Witnesses:

O. M. KING, W. J. SPANGLER. 

